Memphis native Chilton was at his home in New Orleans when he fell ill. He was taken to hospital and died shortly afterward of a suspected heart attack. He had been due to fly into Austin this week for the South By Southwest festival, where he was to perform with the reunited Big Star.

Chilton was immortalised in song as the subject of the Replacements song 'Alex Chilton,' and was one of the most high-profile survivors of the Hurricane Katrina disaster. Chilton had been feared missing in the floods, but was found and promptly evacuated in the early stages.